More surgery for Mick

Australian motorcycle ace Michael Doohan has had a metal and carbon fibre external frame fitted to his right leg in San Francisco during further corrective surgery on the injuries which forced him to retire.

More surgery for Mick

10 February 2000Bob Jennings

Australian motorcycle ace Michael Doohan has had a metal and carbon fibre external frame fitted to his right leg in San Francisco during further corrective surgery on the injuries which forced him to retire.

It was Doohan's fourth operation since he broke his right leg and shoulder and left wrist when his crashed his Honda at Jerez, in Spain in May last year, in qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix.

The circular frame (pictured) is based on a design and treatment procedure originally developed by Russian Dr Gavriel Ilizarov, and is custom-built to realign compressed and rotating bone below Doohan's right knee.

"My leg is gradually bending below the knee and I'm restricted in walking movement," Doohan said before yesterday's operation. "Hopefully the frame will assist the healing process so I can get around more comfortably.

"Unfortunately the bone has also rotated to a different angle and we need to straighten it back to how it should be."

The surgery was performed by American orthopaedic specialist Dr Kevin Louie and the frame is similar to the one he had fitted to his right leg towards the end of 1993 after it had been broken the previous year.

Under the Ilizarov procedure, wires are put through the bone to apply tension and they are attached to external rings on the frame to provide support.

The bone is then stretched regularly by thumb-screw adjustors on the frame.

Doohan's long-term injuries from the crash at Jerez also included nerve damage to his left wrist which resulted in a loss of strength, sensation, and stamina, effectively ending his career.

Doohan will remain in the US for treatment after the surgery, but hopes to return to Australia in time to attend the opening round of this year's Formula One world championship at Albert Park in Melbourne on March 12.

This year Doohan will take up a non-riding role as general manager of a new Honda 500cc grand prix team, whose rider is the exciting Italian 250cc champion, Valentino Rossi.